Before the deluge of spring annuals arrives, there are poppies and sweet peas to get in the ground. Breadseed poppies are a popular choice, and there is no shortage of fabulous colors to choose from.

Sometimes lost in this colorful collage is a wonderful perennial poppy commonly called Moroccan poppy. Papaver atlanticum hails from Spain and Morocco and finds our similar Mediterranean climate much to its liking. While breadseed poppies put on a fabulous show for two-plus months in spring then die off, the Moroccan poppy keeps going, putting out its soft apricot-orange, semi-double 3-inch flowers for much of the year. It does seem at times as if Mother Nature somehow couldn't find the "off" switch and so the plant decided: I'll just keep flowering. Flowers appear on 30-inch-tall, wiry stems, seeming to float above rosettes of bluish-green foliage. These rosettes can reach a foot wide but stay low, topping out at 4 inches. Although this hardy poppy will grow in sun or part shade, the flowers hold onto their color a bit longer in part shade.

Make no mistake, this plant is tough. It will grow in any soil, even in the cracks of the pavement, making it perfect for a rock garden or a dry garden. Once established it gets by with the barest amount of water, although given a bit of regular water it blooms even more prolifically. Use Moroccan poppies to augment other spring-blooming perennials or to add color to a dry garden comprised of succulents and cacti. The soft orange hues blend well with other pastels and yet its height can make it a standout among shorter annuals. The tall stems make this poppy a wonderful cut flower and the petals have a unique crepe paper feel to them.

Did you know?

All poppies make excellent cut flowers if you singe the stem end before placing it in water.

Beyond breadseeds

Papaver atlanticum isn't the only non-breadseed poppy to look for this time of year. Try Papaver commutatum, a prolific red poppy known as ladybird poppy. It's a classic Greek poppy, with red petals and black blotches at the base of each petal. Papaver rhoeas offers large semi-double flowers that are pink, red or white and are sometimes called silk poppies for the texture of the flowers. For those in colder zones, Papaver orientale (Oriental poppy) is an exquisite red or sometimes orange poppy whose foliage reminds some of peonies.

Cultivation

Grow in full sun to part shade in well-draining soil. Deadheading flowers will prolong blooming, as will a bit of regular water. Very drought-tolerant once established. If you wish your specimen to reseed, leave a few dry seed capsules on the plant. Its natural toughness allows seed to get established even in inhospitable locations. USDA zones 5-7.